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Old 04-02-2008, 02:00 AM   #10 (permalink)
RH77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bennelson View Post
Do a web search about flywheels.

There is some really interesting research using large flywheels as energy storage devices.

Think regenerative breaking where slowing down transfers energy into a big flywheel. It spins very quickly. The energy could then be transfered mechanically back to the wheels again, or could run a generator/motor to drive the car.

Really interesting stuff, wish I could think of a good web page about it.

Now this is not a flywheel as in the thing at the end of your engine. It is a HIGH RPM device made of fancy space age stuff.
Kind of like the Medium-Duty Hybrid Trucks with hydraulic pressure build-up on slow-down/stop. The hydraulic fluid pressure gets the vehicle moving from a stop, then the hybrid system starts the Diesel engine and takes over. In this case the spinning wheel/disc acts as a "torque storage device"?

Instead of brakes (hey, sometimes ya gotta use them) the device would spin from momentum and store that energy to get started again. I'm sure other devices would take priority for installation.

RH77
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